WO2001020824A1

WO2001020824A1 - Improvements in and relating to multi-media broadcasting

Info

Publication number: WO2001020824A1
Application number: PCT/GB2000/003527
Authority: WO
Inventors: Christopher Simon Dell; Barry Thurston; Peter Critchley; Kevin Barry Ring; Paul Preece; Patrick William Hugo Michael
Original assignee: Interactive Media Holdings Limited
Priority date: 1999-09-14
Filing date: 2000-09-14
Publication date: 2001-03-22
Also published as: AU7430800A

Abstract

A Multi-media broadcast system which comprises a data compilation and scheduling means, a transmission means, a receiver and storage means for receiving and storing said multi-media information, a schedule analysis means for applying the pre-determined play schedule instructions provided by the data compilation and scheduling means relating to said multi-media information, and least one display means.

Description

Improvements m and relating to Multi-Media

Broadcasting This invention relates to the field of broadcasting and communications, and more specifically, to the field of digital information broadcasting and reception.

The field of broadcasting is undergoing substantial changes with the advent of increasingly more powerful microprocessor technology, and m particular with the introduction digital data and broadcast technology. Indeed the introduction of both digital terrestrial and satellite broadcasting for home entertainment purposes has Deen adopted by the broadcasting industry as the preferred format for the foreseeable future.

State of the art broadcasting techniques utilising the new digital format offer the receiving customer both an increase in reception quality compared with that of analogue signals, and an increased number of viewable channels due to the characteristics of digital signals which are enabled through data compression techniques. However, the mechanisms by which the new digital signals and associated channel are scheduled to the customer, still follow the established patterns developed during the use of analogue broadcasting.

The typical scheduling of a play list to the end user of digital system relies on the transmission of a live feed, via either cable, satellite down-link or terrestrial digital transmission, at a designated time, being made available exclusively to customers who have suitable decryption and/or access systems (i.e. VIDEOCRYPT ™ or Common Access Modules (CAM)) to view the selected channel. No provision exists for the time or content scheduling of broadcasts to specific pre-defined groups or individual customers, thereby highlighting the inflexibility of current system available to the marketplace.

Commercial broadcast applications such as hotel video channels and aircraft in flight entertainment systems typically utilise fixed time scheduled multiple video players, combined with live feed radio transmissions to provide viewing and/or listening choice to customers. Such systems are obviously limited to the material available either at the time of take-off, or in case of hotels the material supplied by the management for broadcast.

A specific embodiment of the invention provides a multi-media broadcasting and communications system capable of dictating and controlling the content, time and play list scheduling of media transmissions to designated users or groups of users. The system may combine a novel method of applying a scheduling protocol to data for broadcast, with the data transmission speed and area coverage offered by satellite communications to provide an integrated broadcast and communications system capable of substantially increasing the flexibility and utility of digital broadcast technology.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a multimedia broadcast system for distributing programme content from a base station to one or more users, the system including:

data compilation and scheduling means, said data compilation and scheduling means providing a multimedia information signal for transmission, said signal including schedule data; transmission means for the transmitting of said multimedia information signal; receiver and storage means for receiving and storing said multimedia information signal; schedule analysis means for processing said multimedia information signal and applying predetermined play schedule instructions from said multimedia information derived from said scheduled data, and at least one display means each of said display means being provided for displaying specified elements of said multimedia information signal in accordance with said schedule data.

The multimedia data used by the system can include image data (including a sequence of images), sound data, machine instructions, text, or any combination of these.

In fact, any form of data which can be represented digitally can be used.

The system make take advantage of satellite communications technology so that the transmission means and the receiving means may comprise a satellite communications transmitter and receiver respectively. Different types of receivers and transmitters can be used, including a dish assembly, a phased array assembly, an arrangement including a lens, a lenticular array assembly.

The display means may be associated with an address, and the schedule means may use the address for identifying specific elements of the multimedia information signal to be transferred to a particular address for display. This allows a great deal of flexibility in the multimedia broadcast so that individualised forms of the multimedia information can be sent to particular addresses. Thus, certain addresses may be grouped and provided with common data, and individual addresses can receive specialised data. For example, advertisements for particular brands may be sent to the addresses of users known to purchase or have an interest in a particular brand or product type.

In a preferred embodiment the address is substantially in the form of an Internet protocol (IP) address. The data compilation and scheduling means may be configured to provide the schedule multimedia information substantially in the form of an IP package. The data compilation and scheduling means may include IP address and encoding. The data compilation and scheduling means can include means for encoding the order and time sequencing of the multimedia information for onward transmission. The receiver and storage means may include a store and forward system and/or a RAID (TM) system. At least one of said display means may include an integral processor, or the system may include a plurality of networked display means.

The flexibility of the system means that it is particularly suitable for use in vehicles, especially vehicles carrying a plurality of passengers. Therefore, at least the receiver and storage means, the schedule analysis means and the display means may be fitted onboard a vehicle. The vehicle can comprise a railroad vehicle, an aircraft, an automobile or a ship. In the case where the system components are onboard an aircraft, they may be interfaced to an aircraft in-flight entertainment system. The system also has applications for portable communications devices, such as mobile phones, WAP devices, personal organisers, etc. Thus, at least the receiver and storage means, the schedule analysis means and the display means may be included in a portable personal communications device.

In one particular embodiment, the system provides for a user of the display device to transfer data which can result in the selection of what data will be displayed on the display means. In this case, the system can further include a user data input device associated with at least one of said display means; user data transfer means for transferring the data input from the device to a remote processor, and processor data transfer means for transferring data from the remote processor to the transmission means, the processor data transfer means being configured to encode the processor data into a format substantially similar to the scheduled multimedia information for transmission.

The user data transfer means may include satellite communications apparatus, such as IMARSAT apparatus. The IMARSAT system is widely used for communications and gives very wide coverage across the globe. Although it only provides relatively low bandwidth (currently between 9.6 Kbs and 64 Kbs) , the Applicants have found that this is sufficient for transferring user data from the system, thus allowing the existing IMARSAT system or equivalent relatively low transmission speed satellite links to be utilised.

The user data may include selection data describing a particular element of the multimedia information which the user wishes to view via the display means, thereby providing "video on demand" type delivery. Alternatively, the system can be used for accessing information via the Internet. For example, the user data may include a uniform resource locator (URL) request, the remote processor being configured to retrieve data corresponding to the URL and to output the retrieved data to the processor data transfer means. It will be appreciated that this is just an example of the Internet usage of the system and that it could easily be adapted by those skilled in the art to provide e- mail messaging, file/data downloading and uploading, etc. Another application includes "video phone" style communications. In this case, the user data includes audio/visual data, the remote processor being configured to function as an audio/visual telephone by transferring the user data to a particular destination address and receiving further audio/visual data from the destination address (i.e. from another party with whom the user is communicating) for output to the data transfer means. In a further refinement of the system, at least one of the display means (or the receiver and storage means) includes means for providing a control function to a device linked to the display means via an interface. The scheduled multimedia information can include encoded instructions for controlling the linked device, the apparatus further including means for decoding the instructions and transferring them to the linked device via the interface. In addition or as an alternative to the satellite communications capability mentioned above, the transmission means and the receiving means could communicate via fibre optic cable or power transmission cable.

In a specific embodiment, the multimedia information can include digital video data, which may be substantially in Digital Video Broadcast (DVB) format. The DVB format data may include any type of DVB data including DVB T (where T represents terrestrial) . This is also sometimes referred to as DVB R (for return path) and wide orthongal frequency digital modulation ( OFDM) . This form of communication can provide the ability to include not only a DVB quality data transmission path but also to include a return path for data requests and the like.

According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of multimedia broadcasting for distributing programme content from a base station to one or more users, said method including steps of: compiling and scheduling a multimedia information signal for transmission, said signal including schedule data; transmitting said multimedia information signal; receiving and storing said multimedia information signal ; processing said multimedia information signal and applying predetermined play schedule instructions for said multimedia information derived from said schedule data, and displaying specified elements of said multimedia information in accordance with said schedule on at least one display means.

According to yet another aspect of the present invention there is provided apparatus for transferring media data, the apparatus including: scheduling means for receiving at least one media data input and producing scheduled media data, the scheduled media data including at least one destination address for a particular element of the media data; transmission means for transmitting the scheduled media data; receiver and storage means for receiving and storing the transmitted scheduled media data, and means for transferring the particular element of the received scheduled media data to the specified destination address .

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of transferring media data, the method including steps of: providing at least one media data input; using the media data input to produce scheduled media data, the scheduled media data including at least one destination address for a particular element of the media data; transmitting the scheduled media data; receiving and storing the transmitted scheduled media data, and analysing the received scheduled media data so as to transfer the particular element of the media data to the specified destination address.

According to yet another aspect of the present invention there is provided apparatus for transmitting scheduled media data, the scheduled media data including at least one destination address for a particular element of media data, the transmission apparatus configured to transmit the scheduled media data to a specified receiver and storage means so that the received scheduled media data can be analysed so that the particular element of the schedule media data can be transferred to a display means corresponding to the specified destination address.

According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided apparatus for receiving and storing transmitted scheduled media data, the scheduled media data including at least one destination address for a particular element of media data, the receiver and storage apparatus including schedule analysis means for transferring the particular element of the scheduled media data to a display means corresponding to the specified destination address. According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided apparatus for displaying media data, the display apparatus being associated with a destination address such that scheduled media data in accordance with the apparatus described above can be viewed on the display. According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a system for distributing media data content from a distribution station to one or more user stations, said system comprising: a distribution station comprising scheduling means for receiving at least one media data input and producing scheduled media data, the scheduled media data including at least one destination address for a particular element of the media data; transmission means for transmitting the scheduled media data; at least one user station comprising receiver means for receiving the transmitted scheduled media data, and means for transferring the particular element of the received scheduled media data to the specified destination address.

The media content is preferably transmitted via a high speed up-link path, which can have a data rate greater than or equal to 1 Mbs . The up-link path is preferably provided by satellite communication means capable of transferring DVB signals. The up-link path may typically include geostationary satellite apparatus capable of providing high bandwidth. The bandwidths may be of the order of 34 Mbs per transponder on the satellite, the satellite including a plurality of transponders. The Applicants have found that in some cases this can allow a data rate of 2 Mbs to be available for returning data in response to a user's request.

The system may include a down-link path from the user to the distribution station, with the down-link path normally having a relatively low data rate, such as under 100 Kbs. The down-link path may be provided by IMARSAT satellite communication.

The system preferably provides the capability of encrypting the data transmitted and decrypting it when it is received.

Whilst the invention has been described above, it extends to any inventive combination of the features set out above or in the following description.

The invention may be performed in various ways, and, by way of example only, various embodiments thereof will now be described, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, m which: -

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic representation of the apparatus of the invention; Figure 2 is a diagrammatic representation of a preferred embodiment in accordance with the invention;

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic representation of the compilation and scheduling means of Figures 1 and 2; Figure 4 is a diagrammatic representation of the satellite transmission up-lmk means and satellite means m accordance with Figures 1 and 2;

Figure 5 is a diagrammatic representation of the receiver, storage and display means m accordance with figures 1 and 2;

Figure 6 shows a diagrammatic representation of a network display means in accordance with the invention, and Figure 7 shows a diagrammatic representation of a further embodiment of the invention in accordance with the invention.

In Figure 1, a data compilation and scheduling means 2 is shown receiving multi-media inputs 4, 6, 8, 10 from a wide range of possible data sources. Such data may comprise but is not limited to video film footage, clips, stills, audio inputs, data files, image files and live stream footage. The data may be received from inputs such as a digital video disc and then stored in the memory of the data compilation and scheduling means. The data is assembled, edited and amended in the compiler 12, the compiled data then being passed to the scheduler 14. The scheduler 14 applies instructions to the data to produce a multi-media information package which contains information relating to IP addresses authorised (or conversely not authorised) to receive all or some elements of the data, along with instructions relating to the order, sequence and time of play. In this particular embodiment, a user associated with the IP address does not select the schedule himself, but rather the content to be viewed by the user is selected by another party, for example an airline selecting in-flight viewing for a passenger. Additionally, information relating to the data transmission file size is added to the information to be transmitted such that receiving stations are able to assess the data storage and playback requirements in relation to the broadcast.

Once the multi-media information has been compiled and sequenced, it is passed to the satellite up-lmk transmission means 16 for transmission to a selected satellite means 26. The multi-media information is then converted to DVB format and amplified by the satellite head end means 20 ready for transmission. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the DVB format caters for the inclusion of data in addition to the visual and sound information. The system has been designed so as to provide maximum flexibility with regards the choice of satellite for up-lmk, thereby providing the user with a system which is not constrained to an area or geographic boundary designated by the available footprint of one single satellite. This allows a satellite which will provide the best quality transmission for a particular destination to be selected. The use of the industry standard Digital Video Broadcast (DVB) format for data transmission via satellites provides for the widest possible coverage available m Europe and most other regions, along with the possibility of utilising other DVB transmission mediums such as cable, fibre and power transmission lines (i.e. electricity mains) to provide the distribution mechanism, or provide for onward passage for the information to areas not served by satellite coverage. In the example shown, the satellite up-lmk is provided by, but not limited to, conventional dished satellite transmission means 22, but the up-lmk could equally be provided by variations such as phased array antennas (not shown) and the like or lenticular arrangements .

The DVB signal 24 is routed 30 via the satellite means 26 and is received by satellite receiving antenna 31. A conventional dish receiving antenna 31 is diagrammatically illustrated, but any suitable form of antenna arrangement such as a phased array antenna could be utilised in the implementation of the invention.

The received DVB signal 31 is processed by the receiver (34) and storage (36) means 32, and subject to the pre-determmed play schedule instructions as interpreted by the schedule analysis means contained therein, the multimedia information is either passed to the storage means 36 for future forwarding 38 to the display means 40, or is passed directly 37 to said display means 40 for viewing by a user or users. Alternatively, the play list scheduling instructions may include commands to pass the information to both the storage means 36 and the display means 40 simultaneously or m time delay.

The display means 40 may comprise any display suitable for a user to view multi-media information, including but not limited to television monitors, computer displays, charged couple display devices, plasma and hot gas plasma displays, liquid display screens and projection displays. Additionally, the display 40 means may incorporate a microprocessor to enable control functions included in the play list schedule to be executed, such as volume control, channel selection, powering up or down the display, computer program suspension and/or interruption for enabling broadcast. If the display means 40 is a computer, then such control instructions may include windowing within the current display to broadcast information and/or link to launch access to the internet and initiate access to specific web pages of sites.

A further function of the receiver and storage means 32 and/or the display means 40 may be to provide a control function via a link such as a databus and/or industry standard RS232, RS422, RS485 connections or the like. This would enable control and operation of a wide range of devices by instructions encoded during the scheduling function 14 of the compilation and scheduling means 2. An example of such a device is a security video camera onboard an aircraft which could be remotely controlled via the broadcasting system in an emergency. However, it will be appreciated that other applications could take advantage of the system, for example unmanned control of devices (or even vehicles) or geographical position indicators. In applications where more than one user/viewer is required to see the broadcast, the display means 40 may be linked to further display means 42, 44, 46, each having an identifiable scheduled address which will determine the viewing rights, time and content for that display. Figure 2 shows a preferred embodiment of the invention linked to an aircraft m-flight entertainment system. The satellite up-lmk 24 and down-link of multi-media DVD information is as per the example given above for figure 1, save for the receiving antenna comprising a conformal phased array 50, profiled for aerodynamic drag reduction. In aircraft applications where an increase m drag by the addition of a satellite receiver dome does not justify the use of a phased array means or the like, then a dish type antenna may be used.

Received data 30 is passed via the antenna 50 to a receiver and storage system 32 as per the example given above for Figure 1. The output 37,38 from the receiving and storage system 32 is passed to the m-flight entertainment system (60) (IFE), whereupon data may be forwarded for viewing at individual passenger displays or dedicated booths 52, 54, 56, or on larger multi-passenger displays 62, which may carry information such as pre-flight safety briefings or other information for the attention of passengers .

The use of the invention n the embodiment as described would be complementary to existing m-flight entertainment systems or military airborne communications systems, and would interface with the existing apparatus via industry standard connectors such as composite video and/or stereo connectors.

In Figure 3, the compiling and scheduling means 2 is shown diagrammatically exploded into its constituent parts. Multi-media inputs 4,6,8,10 are shown being routed to the compiler means 12 where the information is assembled, edited (possibly including adding visual effects and/or titles) and amended in preparation for scheduling. Once the information has been compiled, it is passed to the schedule means 14, wherein it is allocated Internet Protocol addresses (IP's) which are utilised to designate viewers able to view the transmitted information. Furthermore, the scheduling information preferably includes the time (given m GMT or local time) at which particular elements of the information is to be displayed at a display means associated with the IP address, for example, a viewer at a particular seat will be able to watch a tourist information programme just prior to landing. The multimedia package preferably includes a header containing IP addresses which are to be the destination of particular elements of the media data. As will be appreciated, this provides a good degree of flexibility as it is possible for the content provider to create specialised content for particular IP addresses. For example, passengers in different classes of travel accommodation may receive different content, such as different advertisements between common entertainment programmes. IP addresses may be assigned such that the aircraft itself has a core IP address and sub IP addresses are associated with particular seats clustered into groups, for example, business class and economy class. Content providers may also be able to overlay their own "look and feel" to previously recorded programmes, for example placing a logo on a corner of the screen. Additionally, the information can be ordered 66 and time scheduled 68 before the complete information package for transmission is passed through a size counter 70 to provide the receiving means 34 with a method of assessing the storage and onward transmission requirements for the information.

Once the information package is compiled and scheduled, then it is passed as a final IP package 72 to the satellite up-link means 16 for transmission. Figure 4 shows satellite up-link means 16 detailing its constituent parts. The IP encoded information would be typically passed via a router or server 74 to an IP gateway 76, wherein (as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art) the information is converted from IP protocol to DVB. The DVB information is then passed via a multiplexer 78 which allocates specific transmission channels for the satellite up-link. The multiplexer 78 may advantageously comprise means for optimising transmission channel space allocation to further increase the volume of transmittable information capable from one satellite up-link transmission means 16. Such optimisation techniques may include standard data compression (e.g. only retransmitting parts of an image in a sequence of images which have been changed from the previous image in the sequence) and the system may attempt to utilise unused bandwidth which has been saved by not resending such unnecessary information.

Once the DVB information has passed through the multiplexer 78, the signal is amplified by a head end amplifier 80, such that the signal has sufficient strength to be received by the satellite means 26.

Figure 5 illustrates the DVB down-link signal 30 being received by the receiver 34. The particular embodiment shown utilises a dished satellite receiving antenna 31, but any means capable of passing a DVB signal 30 to a receiving means 34 can be utilised, including but not limited to cable, power transmission lines, optical fibres and the like.

Once the DVB information has been received by the receiving means 34, it is passed as a DVB signal 37,38 either directly via a microprocessor to a display means (i.e. such as in an in-flight Entertainment System), or the DVB information is passed to a storage means 36, which may comprise a RAID ™ system or the like. Any such storage means 36 will have a store and forward capability for subsequent interrogation by a microprocessor based system for onward display. Existing products such as "guest channel" produced by E-Vision of the Netherlands may be used to provide store and forward functionality. Such an interrogation system will be required to indicate the correct decryption codes encrypted by the scheduling means 14 in order for the information to be released on request. Such systems may employ CAM technology or the like to facilitate the decryption. The scheduling information attached to the multimedia DVB information transmitted can then be removed so that the particular elements of the multi-media information can be displayed on the display means associated with the specified IP address.

The information provided by size counter 70 at the transmission means may be used by the receiving means 34 in order to confirm that data of the size which was expected has been received. If it has not, then it may be possible to re-request the missing data or send an alert signal (for example to the display means of the user who is expecting the data) that the information has not been received correctly.

Figure 6 shows a DVB signal 37,38 being routed towards a server means 82. The server means will be capable of demanding stored information from the storage means 36 or live streaming information received by the receiver means 34, such that the DVB information can be passed to either a display means comprising an integrated microprocessor 84, or to a normal input display means 86. Additionally, the DVB information could be routed both directly to a display means with integrated microprocessor 84, and to a server means 82 for access control to further display means.

The server means 82 could be connected to Local Area Network displays 90 via a hub means 88, and via additional servers 94 to Wide Area Network display means 96, via further connected hub means 92. The ability to connect to such a wide range of differing display means further illustrates the flexibility offered by the invention as described, thereby providing widely available and controllable viewing accessibility. Figure 7 shows a further embodiment of the invention relating to the utilisation of the system in an airborne application. The description relating to Figure 2 details the example in which the system is shown interfacing with an in-flight entertainment system 60. In this new embodiment, users sat at either workstations 52, lap-top computers 54 or located in dedicated booths 56 are able to view DVB information stored and forwarded or live streamed from the receive and store means 32 on demand. Additionally, via the in-flight entertainment system 60 users are able to access additional information in cache memory 102, either uploaded whilst on the ground or updated via the DVB link during the flight.

Each user will be assigned a "virtual" IP address such that the system can identify each individual user, and a request such as access to the internet whilst in flight can be routed to the correct user. The graphical user interface provided to the user may be one such as "Portal" produced by Interactive Media Holdings Limited. A URL request from user 52 would typically be routed via a router 100 to the in flight entertainment system 60 and out to a satellite transmission means 104. The URL request would be transmitted via a satellite telecommunications satellite system such as IMARSAT and received at a ground station 108. From there the URL request would be routed via a server 110 to an Internet provider 112. Once the data requested has been located, a telecommunications link 114 routes the information to a server 116, which IP encodes the information for reception by the receiver 22 situated on the aircraft, converts it to DVB format and uplinks the information via a DVB satellite 22, to be received by the receive and storage means 32, for onward transmission to the in flight entertainment system 60. The virtual IP address encoded by the m flight entertainment system then routes the requested information to the specific user 52.

In one particular embodiment a "virtual IP address" does not necessarily have to be associated with a particular display means. For example, a virtual IP address may be associated with a person, the person identifying themselves to the system by entering a personal identification number or swiping a magnetic or Smart card through appropriate reading apparatus. Furthermore, data relating to a particular user's usage of the system can be stored, for example m the cache memory 102 of the system. Frequently viewed web pages or the like may also be stored in the cache memory for the user's convenience. Thus, a profile of a user's interests and travel patterns can be obtained and recorded, possibly for use in marketing or customer research. Additionally, a user's personal preferences regarding the look and feel of the software used by the system can be stored so that such preferences can be restored the next time the person uses the system. The user could also down-load further software associated with the system on to a personal computer to review his activities usmg the onboard system or edit his details. Furthermore, the system could be used for billing the user's bank account or credit card. An additional service provided by the invention could be the transmission from user 52, 54, 56 of information such as a video phone link 120. A user 52 who requests use of a video phone link 120 would have the data passed via router 100 and the in flight entertainment system 60 to the on board transmission means 104. The DVB information would be routed via the DVB satellite transmission means 122 up to a satellite 22 and down to a receiving ground station 12 . The down-link information could be routed via a server 116 and onto a video phone system, thereby providing the capability for two way DVB video information interchange whilst airborne. The embodiments of the invention should be regarded as representative of the inventive concept, and not limiting m their particular application as described. Use of the invention can be extended to any broadcast systems which may utilise DVB technology and which requires any element of viewer selection or control, or where the secure transmission of data is required. Furthermore, the invention could readily be applied to support the command, communications and control systems of organisations such as the emergency services and military, along with applications to information distribution in the fields of education and commercial retail services.

The invention will also support the encryption of any of the data to be transmitted such that secure communications can be established, which may be a requirement for data and information which is either commercially or militarily sensitive.

Claims

1. Multimedia broadcast system for distributing program content from a base station to one or more users, said system including: data compilation (12) and scheduling (14) means, said data compilation and scheduling means providing a multimedia information signal for transmission, said signal including schedule data; transmission means (16) for the transmitting of said multimedia information signal; receiver and storage means (32) for receiving and storing said multimedia information signal; schedule analysis means (32), for processing said multimedia information signal and applying predetermined play schedule instructions from said multimedia information derived from said scheduled data, and at least one display means (40), each of said display means being provided for displaying specified elements of said multimedia information signal m accordance with said schedule data.

2. A system according to Claim 1, wherein said transmission means (16) and said receiving means (32) comprises a respective satellite communications transmitter (22) and receiver (31) .

3. A system according to Claim 2, wherein at least one of said satellite communications apparatus transmitter (22) and receiver (31) includes a dish assembly.

4. A system according to Claim 2, wherein at least one of said satellite communications apparatus transmitter (22) and receiver (31) includes a phased array assembly.

5. A system according to Claim 2, wherein at least one of said satellite communications apparatus transmitter (22) and receiver (31) includes a lenticular array antenna.

6. A system according to any one of the preceding Claims, wherein at least one of said display means (40) is associated with an address, and the schedule analysis means (32) uses said address for identifying specific elements of the multimedia information signal to be transferred to a particular address for display.

7. A system according to Claim 6, wherein the address is substantially in the form of an Internet Protocol (IP) address .

8. A system according to Claim 7, wherein the data compilation (12) and scheduling means (14) is configured to provide the scheduled multimedia information substantially in the form of an IP package.

9. A system according to any one of the preceding Claims, wherein said data compilation (12) and scheduling (14) means includes IP address and encoding.

10. A system according to any one of the preceding Claims, wherein said data compilation (12) and scheduling (14) means includes means for encoding the order (66) and time sequencing (68) of the multimedia information for onward transmission.

11. A system according to any one of the preceding Claims, wherein said receiver and storage means (32) includes a store and forward system.

12. A system according to any one of the preceding Claims, wherein said receiver and storage means (32) includes a RAID (TM) system.

13. A system according to any one of the preceding Claims, wherein at least one of said display means (40) includes an integral microprocessor.

14. A system according to any one of the preceding Claims, wherein at least one of said display means (40) includes a plurality of networked display means.

15. A system according to any one of the preceding Claims, wherein at least the receiver and storage means (32), the schedule analysis means (32) and the display means (40) are fitted on board a vehicle.

16. A system according to Claim 15, wherein said vehicle comprises a railroad vehicle.

17. A system according to Claim 15, wherein said vehicle comprises an aircraft.

18. A system according to Claim 15, wherein said vehicle comprises an automobile.

19. A system according to Claim 15, wherein said vehicle comprises a ship.

20. A system according to Claim 17, wherein said system components are interfaced to an aircraft in-flight entertainment system (60).

21. A system according to any one of the preceding Claims, wherein at least the receiver and storage means (32), the schedule analysis means (32) and the display means (40) are included in a portable personal communications device.

22. A system according to any one of the preceding Claims, further including a user data input device (54) associated with at least one of said display means (40); user data transfer means (104, 108) for transferring the data input from the device to a remote processor (110), and processor data transfer means (124) for transferring data from the remote processor to the transmission means (16), the processor data transfer means configured to encode the processor data into a format substantially similar to the scheduled multimedia information for transmission.

23. A system according to Claim 22, wherein said user data transfer means (104, 108) includes satellite communications apparatus.

24. A system according to Claim 23, wherein said satellite communications apparatus includes IMARSAT apparatus.

25. A system according to any one of Claims 22 to 24, wherein the user data includes selection data describing a particular element of the multimedia information which the user wishes to view via the display means (40).

26. A system according to any one of Claims 22 to 25, wherein the user data includes a uniform resource locator (URL) request, the remote processor (110) being configured to retrieve data corresponding to the URL and to output the retrieved data to the processor data transfer means (124).

27. A system according to any of Claims 22 to 26, wherein the user data includes audio/visual data, the remote processor (110) configured to function as an audio/visual telephone by transferring the user data to a particular destination address and receiving further audio/visual data from the destination address for output to the processor data transfer means (124).

28. A system according to any one of the preceding Claims, wherein at least one of said display means (40) includes means for providing a control function to a device linked to the display means via an interface.

29. A system according to any one of the preceding Claims wherein said receiver and storage means (32) includes means for providing a control function to a device linked to the receiver and storage means via an interface.

30. A system according to Claim 28 or 29, wherein the scheduled multimedia information includes encoded instructions for controlling the linked device, the apparatus further including means for decoding the instructions and transferring them to the linked device via the interface.

31. A system according to any one of the preceding Claims, wherein said transmission means (16) and said receiving means (34) communicate via fibre optic cable.

32. A system according to any one of the preceding Claims, wherein said transmission means (16) and said receiving means (34) communicate via power transmission cable.

33. A system according to any one of the preceding Claims, wherein said multimedia information mcludes digital video data .

34. A system according to Claim 33, wherein said digital video data is substantially in Digital Video Broadcast (DVB) format.

35. A method of multimedia broadcasting for distributing program content from a base station to one or more users, said method including steps of: compiling and scheduling a multimedia information signal for transmission, said signal including schedule data; transmitting said multimedia information signal; receiving and storing said multimedia information signal; processing said multimedia information signal and applying predetermined play schedule instructions for said multimedia information derived from said schedule data, and displaying specified elements of said multimedia information in accordance with said schedule on at least one display means.

36. Apparatus for transferring media data, the apparatus including: scheduling means (14) for receiving at least one media data input (4,6,8,10) and producing scheduled media data, the scheduled media data including at least one destination address for a particular element of the media data; transmission means (16) for transmitting the scheduled media data; receiver and storage means (32) for receiving and storing the transmitted scheduled media data, and means (32) for transferring the particular element of the received scheduled media data to the specified destination address.

37. A method of transferring media data, the method including steps of: providing at least one media data input; using the media data input to produce scheduled media data, the scheduled media data including at least one destination address for a particular element of the media data; transmitting the scheduled media data; receiving and storing the transmitted scheduled media data, and analysing the received scheduled media data so as to transfer the particular element of the media data to the specified destination address.

38. Apparatus (16) for transmitting scheduled media data, the scheduled media data including at least one destination address for a particular element of media data, the transmission apparatus configured to transmit the scheduled media data to a specified receiver and storage means (32) so that the received scheduled media data can be analysed so that the particular element of the schedule media data can be transferred to a display means (40) corresponding to the specified destination address.

39. Apparatus (32) for receiving and storing transmitted scheduled media data, the scheduled media data including at least one destination address for a particular element of media data, the receiver and storage apparatus including schedule analysis means (32) for transferring the particular element of the scheduled media data to a display means (40) corresponding to the specified destination address .

40. Apparatus (40) for displaying media data, the display apparatus being associated with a destination address such that scheduled media data in accordance with apparatus according to any one of the Claims 33 to 36 can be viewed on the display.

41. A system for distributing media content from a distribution station to one or more user stations (40), said system comprising: a distribution station comprising scheduling means (14) for receiving at least one media data input and producing scheduled media data, the scheduled media data including at least one destination address for a particular element of the media data; transmission means (16) for transmitting the scheduled media data; at least one user station comprising receiver means (34) for receiving the transmitted scheduled media data, and means (32) for transferring the particular element of the received scheduled media data to the specified destination address.

42. A system according to Claim 41, wherein said media content is transmitted via a high-speed up-lmk path.

43. A system according to Claim 42, wherein said highspeed up-lmk path has a data rate greater than or equal to one megabit per second (1 Mbs).

44. A system according to any one of Claims 41 to 43, wherein said system includes a down-lmk path from the user to the distribution station.

45. A system according to 44, wherein said down-lmk path has a relatively low data rate.

46. A system according to Claim 45, wherein said data rate is under 100 Kilo bit per second (kbs) .

47. A system according to Claim 45 or 46, wherein said down-lmk path is provided by IMARSAT satellite communication .

48. A system according to any one of Claims 42 to 47, wherein said up-lmk path is provided by satellite communication means capable of transferring DVB signals.

49. A system according to any one of Claims 41 to 48, wherein the data transmitted by the system is encrypted.